Islam is one of the world’s major religions, with a significant and growing number of adherents globally. Understanding the distribution and demographics of the Muslim population provides insight into cultural, social, and geopolitical dynamics worldwide.
Global Muslim Population Overview
As of 2020, Muslims constitute approximately 24% of the global population, equating to about 1.9 billion individuals. This marks a substantial increase from 12.3% in 1900 and 19.9% in 1990, with projections suggesting that by 2050, Muslims will make up nearly 29.7% of the world’s population.
Distribution by Region
Asia
A significant majority of Muslims, about 62%, reside in Asia. The countries with the largest Muslim populations in this region include:
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Indonesia: Home to 12.7% of the world’s Muslims, Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority country.
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Pakistan: Approximately 11% of the global Muslim population resides in Pakistan.
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India: Although not a Muslim-majority country, India hosts about 10.9% of the world’s Muslims, making it the country with the largest Muslim-minority population.
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Bangladesh: Around 9.2% of Muslims globally live in Bangladesh.
Middle East and North Africa
Approximately 20% of the world’s Muslim population is concentrated in the Middle East and North Africa. Countries in this region with significant Muslim populations include:
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Egypt: About 4.9% of the global Muslim population resides in Egypt.
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Iran: A predominantly Shia Muslim country with a substantial Muslim population.
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Turkey: A significant Muslim-majority nation bridging Europe and Asia.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Islam has a notable presence in Sub-Saharan Africa, with countries like Nigeria hosting about 5.3% of the world’s Muslims.
Europe
Islam is the second-largest religion in Europe after Christianity. As of 2016, Muslims accounted for approximately 4.9% of Europe’s population, with growth attributed to immigration and higher birth rates among Muslim communities.
Americas and Oceania
In the Americas, Muslims constitute about 0.6% of the population, while in Australia, they make up approximately 1.9%.
Sectarian Distribution
The Muslim population is primarily divided into two major sects:
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Sunni Muslims: Representing approximately 87-90% of the global Muslim population.
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Shia Muslims: Making up about 10-13% of Muslims worldwide.
Additionally, other sects like the Ahmadiyya community constitute around 1% of the Muslim population.
Population Growth and Projections
Islam is recognized as the world’s fastest-growing major religious group. Factors contributing to this growth include:
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Young Age: Muslims have a median age of 24, younger than the global median of 30.
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High Fertility Rates: Muslim families have an average of 3.1 children, compared to the global average of 2.5.
Projections indicate that by 2050, the number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians globally. By the end of the 21st century, Islam is expected to become the world’s largest religion.
Conversion and Religious Switching
Religious conversion has a minimal net impact on the Muslim population. The number of individuals converting to Islam is roughly equal to those leaving the faith. However, Islam is expected to experience a modest gain of 3 million adherents through religious conversion between 2010 and 2050, primarily from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ethnic and Cultural Diversity
The global Muslim community is ethnically and culturally diverse:
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Arab Muslims: Form the largest ethnic group among Muslims worldwide.
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Bengalis and Punjabis: Significant ethnic groups within the Muslim population.
This diversity is reflected in the various cultural practices, languages, and traditions observed by Muslims globally.
Education and Literacy
Educational attainment among Muslims varies across regions:
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Literacy Rates: Countries like Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey have high literacy rates, while others, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, face challenges.
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Years of Schooling: Muslims have an average of 5.6 years of schooling, with 36% having no formal education. However, significant progress has been made in recent decades.